EFCC Comes After Former Kwara Gov – 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed its findings regarding the alleged misuse of funds by the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed. According to the EFCC, Ahmed purportedly chartered private jets with the sum of N1,610,730,500.00, which was designated for the security and operational costs of the Kwara State Government.

Details of these findings were contained in a document exclusively obtained by a correspondent on Thursday. Ahmed is set to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, today on charges related to an alleged N10 billion fraud, comprising 12 counts.

Among these counts, the EFCC accuses Ahmed of fraudulent conversion of N400 million from a N1 billion short-term loan acquired by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited. The funds were purportedly intended for the completion of ongoing projects in the state.

The document from the EFCC states, “Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) between 2015 and 2019 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court used an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500, property of Kwara State Government, meant for the security and running cost of the Government of Kwara State, to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited on different occasions for your local travels and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust or theft.”

Responding to Ahmed’s detention, the Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the stringent bail conditions imposed. Oba stated, “Yes, he is still with the EFCC, and we are now in a dilemma over the issue because they keep changing the goalpost during the match. The case is taking a new dimension, which we don’t really understand for now. Initially, they said they wanted him to produce two sureties who are federal directors. The sureties came and were asked to provide landed properties in Abuja. We see this as a contradiction. The case was initially handled by the EFCC office in Abuja before it was transferred to Ilorin over the issue of jurisdiction. Additionally, he has been denied access to his doctors, medication, and direct access to his cook.”

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